In 2015, Rolling Stones magazine published a list of the 100 greatest songwriters of all time. The list included artists like Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, and (of course) Bob Dylan. But, it also excluded a few names that definitely deserved a spot among the greats. Out of these, the following 5 stand-out as perhaps the most wrongly unrecognized.
5. Elliot Smith
"Go off to sleep in the sunshine, I don't want to see the day when it's dying."
4. Justin Vernon
"And this my excavation, today is Qumran / Everything that happens is from now on."
Most popularly known for his music project Bon Íver, Vernon has bolstered an unprecedented level of genius since the early to mid-2000s. Through his gritty vignettes, pastoral poetry, and wordplay as clever as it is comforting, Vernon deals with everything from break-ups to free-will, always doing so with equal parts grace, innovation, and wit. Vernon, winning 2 Grammy Awards and displaying mastery across a multitude of genres, has secured his place among the greatest songwriters of all time.
3. Seth and Scott Avett
"Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name"
It often seems difficult to describe a songwriters work, especially if one wishes to capture the nuance that makes it great, but just about anyone whose heard the Avett Brothers could probably encapsulate the entirety of their work with one word: Honesty. Their often simple, yet profound lyrics capture the Americana spirit, presenting truths about life, love, and purpose through writing that makes the listener feel like he's talking to a friend. Despite their 11 wonderfully crafted studio albums and numerous impressive side projects, these 2 songwriters are given far less praise than they deserve.
2. Jason Isbell
"The church bells are ringing for those who are easy to please / and the frost on the ground probably envies the frost on the tree."
Isbell's songwriting is as timeless as it is tragic and as heartbreaking as it is honest. After overcoming alcohol addiction and other personal struggles, Isbell re-focused on his work and produced some of the, well as Brad Passey of Backseat puts it, "the greatest songwrit[ing] this side of Bob Dylan." While his powerful writing has earned him 4 Grammy awards in the past 3 years and many recognize him as the highest talent in songwriting today, he still receives far less praise than he deserves. Isbell stands alone in his mastery of country lyricism and finds rank among the best to ever do it.
Now, before number one, here are a few honorable mentions that also fell short of the Stones' list: Freddie Mercury, Damien Jurado, John Mayer, Laura Marling, Willie Watson, and Chance the Rapper.
1. Townes Van Zandt
"Living on the road my friend was gonna keep you free and clean / now you wear your skin like iron / your breath's as hard as kerosene"
If I asked you to come up with a musician who contributed considerably to the canon of American literature and who could conceivably be called the greatest songwriter of all time, you'd probably name 100 musicians before Townes Van Zandt--granted, Rolling Stones did exactly that. Yet, to not give Townes this credit seems wholly criminal. His work stands alone as a breathtaking and legendary collection of country and blues music, crafted over 30 years, that exhibits mastery in songwriting. Townes remained relatively unknown as an artist throughout his career, but is finally, years after his death, receiving increasing notoriety. Prolific, powerful, and piercing, Townes' work deserves a place at the height of songwriting.
Seriously, when you have the time, check out some of these artists and their work.
-JRH
